FULL RACE: 2023 Scheldeprijs Men

[Music] thank you [Music] [Music] it's time for the sprinters to set the pace the Diamond Classic skel the press the Sprint is classic as it's been known down the years already and back for the 111th Edition the oldest race in Flanders that nowadays starts over the Border in Zealand well we've had the big one haven't we the Rendezvous Lander was a resounding success and one of the best races that we have cycling fans probably ever seen but it goes on and the build up to Bali Huber continues starting in Turners at a quarter to one and then finishing in the late afternoon just outside of Antwerp it's a flat race this one distance sometimes wind and conditions can also influence things one where there's always something waiting to happen around the corner and some of the top names in World cycling are here alongside the vast open squares of land in Netherlands will it be a Flying Dutchman who wins today well there's a couple of them on the start list headed by De la karuna Vega and Fabio Jakob sir he of course races for the Belgian team sudal Quick Step Team buses were all lined up and ready to go outside City Hall in Turners up one of the windiest places on the planet but today where things were pretty relaxed only getting up was five to ten kilometers per hour today likely to be one of those World Championship sprint-a-thons racing alongside the utensil Creek and the many bodies of water that take their way along to the North Sea Rotterdam one way and the home of this race and took the other these are the Riders who've taken the win in the last 10 years four in the last 10 years to Marcel Kittle Mr skell the Press alongside Fabio Jakob sir who's looking for win number three today ewan's a former winner Phillips as well and last year's winner the first Breakaway for a long time he's now won it twice Alexander Kristoff managed to smell out of Victory last year attacking in windy and wet conditions today it looks like we have the conditions for a Sprint finish and former winner in a Sprint finish is calebuen Racing for the now second division team Lotto destiny Edward turns well he likes this race doesn't he a skell the Press always one he seems to perform well in he leads the charge today for Trek Sega Ferrero a team from the United States [Applause] also up on the stage representing the Australian Jayco alula team a rest start in the Netherlands for him not too much top level racing over the Border but a race that finishes in Belgium and a big boss looking on Sam wellsford the main man for dear Sim but they've got Sprint options agility Talia stage winner as well Casper vanuden a young strong Dutchman and for our care Samsung several options as well the likes of austere and McClay Luca modzato another fast finisher from Italy for Borah it's all about Jordy maos young Belgian star to be led out by a strong team including Danny for Popple who's on form at the moment and you're the mouse should be the main man a team from Germany bore a hand scrub nowadays more of a GC team after they won the jediatalia last year confidence still looking for an identity all these years after the last time they won a stage at the Tour de France [Music] British champion not really got going yet for Astana Kazakhstan which is getting race days in his legs he's today here alongside case Vault cavadish a winner of this race a long long time ago 2007 followed by a few other victories since then as well he was the Record Man for a while leading up today he says Jasper Phillips the man that they're riding for for the pool heading from Flanders to Ruby on the ball who is of Dutch nationality but he was born in Belgium raised in Belgium had who still lives in Belgium very close to the Dutch border one man definitely from the Netherlands Fabio jakobson done most of his racing in Belgium quite the story isn't he he's now the European champion two-time under this race alongside another man who's took it twice Alexander Kristoff showing us that he can surprise despite being in the veteran category now he's back with a brand new Norwegian team Uno X a former European Champion today not one of the favorites but you can never count him out so an A-list of Sprint royalty all lining up and ready to go on a sunny day in both Netherlands and Belgium and a race that crosses the Border a race that has entertained Us in the last few years it's one of the most traditional certainly one of the most historic six years longer in the history books than the tour of Florida's the oldest bicycle race in Flanders and this is the 111th Edition the old velodrome in antoop now finishing in the satellite town in scoten just outside of the diamond City so the flags blowing and fluttering but not exactly being ripped off the flag poles today as they were a year ago a much calmer start as the Peloton began their journey across Zealand and then across the border back into Belgium [Applause] yes but Philips are there as they headed under the water Remember by this point the last couple of years the race was being ripped apart by kilometer zero Scott Sullen and wave the flag and we were underway just before lunchtime a bit of usual attempt to try and form a breakaway and the end seven Riders would make it fairly easily up the road seven more than enough for the sprinters to control they didn't want any more than that and that's how the race took its shape at the start of this 111th scale of the press beginning intern and heading across the water into Zealand the wind often blows today not so much after that passage back towards Flanders over the Border and in to scale the Press country an area around the beautiful wooded suburbs of Antwerp and then laps local laps four times across the cobbles of the brookstrat before a passage by the Albert Canal three full laps four passage across the cobbles 205 kilometers for the skeld Press and as they went into the tunnel it was already starting to settle down a much more calm considered start to this year's skelder place through the Western skelt tunnel at the back of the Peloton they knew they might be in for an easier day couple of riders desperate to try and get across no doubt bark told us from Sports directors to be present in the Breakaway this was Joshua kench kiwi Rider riding for the Kiwi team Bolton equities black spoke and as he made it across the group would be complete seven Riders who very quickly got a couple of minutes and that has grown to a maximum of three as the day's gone on Paladin very happy to let things grow out the controllable situation for lots of teams with big name sprinters so the Comfort breaks began and one by one the biggest sprinter's favorite started to add a man to the chase break was never allowed to get out of control three minutes maximum but it's been called trolled a lot less than that as they've headed back over the Border added to Belgium as the odd issue for the reigning champion he was helped back to the Peloton though without any problem and a full list of riders up the road Joshua kench who we saw chasing across there from Bolton equities black spoke Julio mazzotto from Team corrotech the Italian team who this year will ride the journey Talia Flanders balwaz represented with rubenapras who's come from the track to the road Felipe ridolfo riding for the all diabetes team team nowra Nordisk and two riders for the Dutch beat Cycling Club Bram dessel and Vincent holpersack the track Rider unexpected an effort from Tess sonnerville journalists turned bike rider unable to get across and into today's Breakaway I'm going to check the numbers make sure that the body's doing all it can fast speed's always in the scale to play us on a flat course but no Crosswinds really to worry about today certainly not that will really split the bunch the Grand Prix of the scalder Belgium's longest river also known as the concrete this race it's French name of course the scale the press the home Dutch name which it goes known throughout the world now well in Zealand we've got a good look at a few very nice little towns and Villages this is Squad up told Church center of town and there's water everywhere isn't there this far of the world the canals and the river itself the skelt it's all the way up to the North Sea with this flat land that when the wind is blowing and makes this race harder today the most Pleasant weather day in the last two weeks nice for those on the side of the road not so nice for those who wanted to break the race up today and try to disrupt the sprinter's Rhythm the windmill is almost still a rare image a collector's item and the Peloton not too nervous not too strong out certainly not arrowed across the road in the shape of echelons time they go live the Riders have returned to Belgium to the races Homeland to Flanders and it's Florida's oldest race that sees this all up the road two Dutchmen are there two Italians a couple of belgians and a kiwi seven Riders all from second or even third division teams there's of course a second division race a semi-classic on a Wednesday afternoon but one of the most traditional and valuable if sprinting is your thing there are still 103 kilometers to go so we're exactly halfway along this route right now but look at how well controlled it is the sprinters do not want to let this get out of hand sprinters though a couple of them having less rides to control no Casper featherson who was set to be the main lead out man for sudel Quick Step a no Shane Archbold kiwi Rider from borahan screw not starting he had been down to start after having ridden the round of Lander at the weekend a gap from three minutes has gone down to 145. and it's as calm as you can get it in professional cycling right now but it will stay that way for too long and once we hit those local circuits three of them things will get very interesting indeed still plenty of twists and turns parkour designers giving opportunities for those who would want to split it into normal prevailing winds to do just that you're rarely in a straight line for too long here but the weather hasn't played ball this is part of the skill to press as well the racist identity is of the sprinters classic every few years you're going to get those windy additions like we had last year every few other years we'll get the more traditional finishes like this and I think for the Riders after the poor weather we've had for most of the classics so far this season they'll be pretty happy to have some sunshine on the legs and a few short sleeves there has been a rarity recently no big name Riders up the road a bunch of riders really trying to make their name in their career the likes of Ruben apres on the right hand side is 24 years of age yet to win a race came through Lotto sudal's development project before settling in the Flemish government project the Flanders balwaz based over in Kent at the Eddie Merks velodrome often blending track talent and Road stars as well and in fact it's one of belden's recent Track Stars the last couple of decades who's the sports director today and Kenny Decatur is the national selector on the track maybe a surprise that q36.5 and human-powered health did manage to get in the Breakaway today but you have Sprint options q36.5 will consider that they have an option to win the race brand new team from Switzerland just gonna see what they can pull off now he was machiavellipop now that he hasn't been that unlucky has he good luck or bad luck you know what I'm talking about he wanted to clean it for the cameras anyway he's at home here is Matthew Paul well I think it's good luck in some places bad luck in others but we'll see what happens in the kernick and if that is the least of the worries for Matthew for the fall today then it might not be a bad day it was excellent at the weekend again wasn't he what a record he has in the tour of Florida's now not able to beat today pogacha but four appearances now in Florida's finest two wins two second places and the one fourth it's a race that's made for him and perhaps in His image interesting to see what he does as we go to those bigger games of stones at the weekend the nasty cobbles of Ruby and all together different beats no climbing less climbing you should say but certainly rougher tougher cobbles and a throwback to a different era of racing once again it'll be up against Stuart fanart he's not expected to be up against today but gotcha this time but you never know we're passing through lunard we're in Northern Flanders you're looking on a map let's look north of the Belgian Capital Brussels and of the northeast of antuk which is the largest city in Florida we're inside 100 kilometers to go in the 111th scale press Albertina kernick committed Jayco alula as well a lot of Destiny have committed a man as have sudal quickstep four teams riding to control this Breakaway and I'm doing Borah hand score this service maybe because marcohana's up towards the front for them as well so five teams plenty of others who will feel that they want to win the Sprint they can win the Sprint but aren't obliged to commit to control but with The Gap at just one minute and 23 seconds doesn't like anybody's obliged to really control too much heat so far has been 45.5 kilometers per hour flat parkour fast it's not headline hitting like the fastest ever run off of Land Rover was at the weekend 44.5 K's an hour that with all the cobbles and climbing in that race and over the distance as well will be a tour of land as we remember what's this edition of the scale the players to provide now there are nine teams here from cycling's top division one of them Jayco a Lula and his Lucas personal Burger going to work popular Austrian rider in the blue and white there it's his first season with the Australian team formerly have bought a hand score the German team and uh personal Berger remember a former Malia Rosa were at the general Italian such a versatile Rider in the state she won in the opening day of the 100th GDOT got a little Gap in the Sprint didn't he and supposedly riding for Sam Bennett that day Bennett shouted down the radio that he had a gap and he had to go held off the entire Peloton in the final kilometer and took what is the most memorable victory of his career nowadays a dumb SD can Workhorse and a popular one at that here's the Breakaway today we've already met Ruben apples haven't we number 196 at the back here is part of the Nova nordist team that consists of all diabetic Riders raising awareness and competing at the very top level at the same time very special year for them last year as a team of course it was the anniversary of the discovery of insulin drug that helps diabetics control their blood sugar levels also up in the break we've got a team with two Riders that's the beat cycling cub an the recently retired Sports director in the car got a merry mix of interesting Riders from the track and not just endurance Riders because mates of track Sprint Fame leads their team today alongside the likes of Judy Harvick top six day Rider who's written the odd sixth day with him as a partner as brown dissell alongside hopasaka to break away and test Summerfield he's still a journalist very good bike rider as well he's in the beat Cycling Club Squad this year he writes today's race to take any thoughts the house things went independent did not manage to make today's Breakaway though DSM took a while to get their first win on a roll now one of the teams to watch today some wellsford should be their main man it's been long in the professional Palatine and well these couple of guys might be aiming to get there quick glance at their Heroes for a Wednesday afternoon ride out is it that the view of that'll be obstructed by the brilliant cycling infrastructure here [Applause] the only males will be used to that as a Belgian having a chat with Emil's libbins there the Latvian champion from Trek segafredo male shoes yet to take Victory this season but he's been up there Podium places in almedi and Murcia a couple of Podium places in The Algarve top 10 in Corona a couple of top 10 finishers as well he was seventh in Milan Turin struggle to get round races since then well non-finishes in the last five days on the road for the 24 year old from lommel wasn't once since last September this man though is a prolific winner Vega 29 year old from Amsterdam nicknamed the atomic tadpole believe it or not yes I know we've heard better ones but it is what it is that one what a big sprint in the UAE tour this year until my queen not after getting off the mark in the Saudi tour 65 career wins [Applause] I'm looking to try and take something at the scale of the press [Applause] that's one of the races that every spreader wants to win in the career last day in Paris the chance the other big one for the sprinters isn't it already has that one ticked off and on his Palmetto is back from 2017. the scale the Press will be an important objective for him and for jaycar Lula that's why they're committing Lucas personal beggar to the chase yet not leaving anything the chance strong strong lead out late quick Luka mesh gets the next stibar a team that will be all in for their Dutch leader lots of teams in Colorado already there's no Panic here I'm gonna just see all these exposed sectors that if the wind had been blowing even over here away from Zealand which is the windiest place on the route would have been interesting Riders across the left hand side so there's a little bit of wind about and the cab fans are here still going might not be cavidish but he's got a present anyway [Music] Kevin is still looking for the first victory since joining Kazakhstan and hasn't raced since the edripress in Harold Becker hasn't really got near this [Music] foreign [Music] the big one in the round of Atlanta he's got that left knee taped up [Music] so defeiling in the whole Stratton huge industrial area with of course the ports around the vegetable market you see all the greenhouses both here and across the border and Netherlands it's a huge huge part of the local economy Antwerp just down the road as well as one of the biggest ports in the world ah strawberries that's enough sunshine today for them as well [Music] known in strawberry growing circles just say the Peloton Arrow towards that side and even though the wind isn't strong today every little bit of energy is being saved it's pretty isn't it folks that happens Church very different than the rest of the brabons architecture and Flemish architecture almost looked like it should be Alpine then hands out a long long way away Amanda look up for veranda Marshall he's been down there with calebu and maybe they're still arguing about that finish a few weeks ago cycling's biggest recent VAR moment how to make a decision when you see the replay Thurston was given the Victory and kale abuel in denial says he won it pretty good Sprinter all back themselves and believe in themselves sometimes even after the event 90 kilometers to go it's at 139 they're working hard these seven Riders not the sirens to cheer them on from the local emergency services Depot I tell what there's a great Festival atmosphere around today it's hard to describe the atmosphere around the scale of the press and this you've actually been here the satellite town of schoolton seems to take almost a public holiday every Wednesday at the start of April business as usual down the road in the Big Smoke in Antwerp we're here in scoten everybody is in a bar start off by drinking coffee then move to the Belgian beer there's a smell of chips fleets in the air Barbecue's a Go-Go the VIP tents are packed and having driven the last few kilometers of the parkour today there's deck chairs out everywhere a few sandwiches have been made flasks of coffee the old cold beverage as well all waiting for glimpses of their Heroes they've already had the top level women's race pass earlier on I won't ruin the result of that for you we'll bring you the podium later on and then out going to see three passages once they get to the three final laps full passes through the Finish Line it's almost four laps really of all of these top sprinters it's a great great party atmosphere and the weather's adding to that on the side of the road today they're still there doing their thing the beat Cycling Club I bet a few bumps in the road since they were formed they came in tried to be as disruptive as possible to change the model as to how cycling teams were funded they've been on the track on the road as well they're now sort of a hybrid and a bridge between the track and road and visit hopazak here is a rider who spent most of his career on the track so far it's 24 now no Pro wins and he's done mainly a Dutch program now and Flanders home of the national cycling Museum of course the start venue for the racing we had last Wednesday afternoon in in warada [Applause] all sharing out the work and sharing the turns well these guys for that young man from the northeast of Italy from udine 21 it's his first race up in Belgium this season they've managed to compete in the Italian terrific horrific weather that day and he was one of many who failed to finish and a mix of under-23 racing and Pro Racing for him from the northeast of Italy where the penultimate stage of the agility Talia will play out this year and certainly here in Belgium all eyes will be on that because what I'm quavnable I'll be trying to become the first Belgian for a long long time since the Pink Panther himself to win the general Italia talking of Italians this is Julia mazzotto he'll have the Jitter on his mind tour of Italy that starts in a month's time it's because his team has been selected as a wild card entrant it will be their first ever Grant to it it's our first year at second division level this team koratec mazoto is a 23 year old from Verona the fair City in Northeast Italy isn't one of the favorites to be selected in the squad but everybody will have that dream to be on the start line as an Italian it's just about the biggest thing you can do in cycling realistically to start the national Grand Tour oh they can almost see them on the road you take too early to catch them that's why I think we're seeing a few Comfort breaks here I had a step into one side get the feeling that the Peloton are knocking along at a good lick but they're not chasing them down hounding them down and bringing them back that's still 86 kilometers to go maybe if you haven't watched this sport much before you wonder why they don't want to catch them yet [Music] Breakaway to be caught here then we'll give leave to plenty more attacks at the front nervousness about the race that a lot of the big sprinters don't want at this stage yes of course they want to catch the Breakaway you want to set up a Sprint if they can catch them let's say in 65k's time I'll be more than enough let's see what happens though it's been a controlled race so far but racing doesn't always end up like that does it often obstacles around the corner and when all of these Riders have to move up and fight for that position at the front as they come to the final three local laps and the cobbles then it'll be difficult to let a breakaway just hang out at the front [Music] now 118 kilometers into the race 85 remain speed's still above 45k tonight [Music] on duty today and we imagine he will be in will be on Sunday Quick Step a little bit of deja vu because we were saying this last spring but they need to save their spring absent Anonymous in all of the races that really form their identity and DNA there's a Flemish team the team that has historically gone well on the cobbles starkly gone better than any other team but they've won absolutely nothing so far save for the Nokia a good classic small semi-classic let's be honest in melia's Victory there they're only win in a classic this spring Fabio Jakob says the man they're trying to win the scale to press with today if Jacobson can win today I'll be up there in joint second place for the most number of wins currently it's the retired Marcel Kittle who is a five-time winner of the scale the Press then Mark Cav Edition twinning in the 60s cavadish's last win in 2011. then a whole host of Fighters on two wins including in this race Alexander Kristoff jakobs I have mentioned as well innocent Leonards oh there's another related name on those two wins of course he's now retired and can't add to that but there's two sons are racing John Paul from Popple two-time winner in the 1980s boy from football today racing Phantom L shape and his brother Danny his younger brother Danny the two Riders still should be in lead out mode though for your emails new races for Borah hunts grow today the bunch flying past Saint Leonards we're heading towards brechton moving on towards our Finnish Town scored next always serving as a backdrop for the finish of the fastest of the bulletin well populated place but also quite a a pretty place of large mansions and houses hidden in the woods water's never too far away but lots of pretty green fields as well I'm sure we might get a glimpse of one of the two of The Chateau that's what's in the area and of course being in Belgium well we've got the road Furniture to deal with short sections of cobbles and this wonderful cycling English infrastructure fantastic for everyday bike riding it really leaves you with little or no excuse they get on the back to do your shopping or go to work because when it's bike racing that's involved it's a different story altogether more obstacles to avoid for the pelotonous of course we saw to disturbing disturbing nature at the weekend of course did have a rider disqualify didn't we for a shocking movement it's been nice to see him come out and own up to his mistake and apologize for it bad injuries didn't we and the good news is priyanta martial Riders who ended up in a hospital of left Hospital in the last 24 hours including tackleford horn and Binion Goodman well they will miss Barry who babe but they're on the road to recovery I told your jet deck chairs were up it's a family day out that's nice to see end of the drive and well not even a need to flick the Telly on live sport coming right past them beautiful sunny day for it as well the whole family watching Tinder Clara Can Company fly past on has just slowed down a little as we suggested they might when we were seeing the Comfort breaks they do not want to catch this Breakaway yet could be a little game of cat and mouse for the next step well the best part of the next 80k's get Phil allowed to grow out from just over a minute to 127 again and this man's the expert at this then the clerk has chased down more breakaways than most of this Peloton have had hot dinners it's his job he isn't the winner in the team in fact he's never been a winner of a race among the pros but he can do this job measuring his effort keeping it going all day long knowing when to put on the gas and when to just take your foot off it you can do it better than anybody else being helped today by uh Center layson I said we're on our way to brecht and here it is back in prehistoric times a big hunting ground we've got a museum where you can learn the history of prehistoric Hunters pioneering farmers the Romans the brave warriors it's the Kent Museum right here's some of that infrastructure I was telling you about well signaled thankfully still a relatively reacts ride for the likes of kennebu and in this brand new lead out team including the experience Jacob guarnieri and he Mark Cavendish oh this race before he did in his career I was talking about the chem Museum and here it is for all Building look at that tremendous Brave onto architecture North problem heading up here and they kept Museum you can learn about all those prehistoric settlements plenty of stuff Outdoors as well the metal is a big wood domain not far away 156 hectares [Music] with personal bag up still lives in trains in Austria spends quite a bit of time in Italy as well over the Border training [Music] to adapted to life in his new surroundings well [Music] at the back there number 197. experienced enough Italian Rider it's been in knowing all this for quite a few years now and a veteran of their participations and the likes of Milano San Remo been out in the break in San Ramon before getting rid of some clothing Gap just staying the same isn't it 123 124. turn off the main road and it's time to be a slight increase in speed to get it strong out and keep everybody safe it's amazing how good these Riders are at measuring the effort as to almost bring back at will to break away of course a lot of that happens early on when the fighting to establish the Breakaway they'll have an idea of a number of varieties they want to control seven was that anybody else who tried to get out would have been chased down a lot of Destiny they could do it winning some races at home couldn't they it's the start of a brand new cycle for them a man who's not quite a veteran Sprinter yet but he's been around enough he's the winner of this race three years ago Caleb Ewing man from Victoria in Australia [Music] get the feeling he needs a win a greatest start to the year for him Australians to win this race include Robbie McEwen as well on this 21 years ago now un has a good lead out today take your pick really the likes of zelig guarnieri the boast coming up to a point where there's going to be a slightly narrower Bridge here oh look at this this particular Belgian concrete slab Road has been laid with a very wide valley of death in the middle there normally just about wide enough for a bike tire to fit in but you could fit a couple in there hopefully coming to an area where it joins is the narrowing point no Panic though here Peloton if they're sensible should get over nice and easily [Music] going back to Caleb um well non-finisher in Florida at the weekend and the only race he's won this year is a criteria national calendar in Australia second a few times 20 again in San Remo and well keep supporting the farmers I've been gonna be a peaceful farming protests throughout the classics this year difficult Economic Times for everybody in some Industries feeling it more than others [Music] still five teams committed him the cleric just in front of Marco Halep you imagine that harlot will be a man to see how he is maybe this is the test to see the fitness and how he's recovering from that bang on the knee with obey in question and on the calendar for this weekend [Music] Willie the man to ride at the front to chase things down normally saved a little later on in the piece yes I'm not committing any Riders to the chase but they're in the black jerseys and blue stripes sitting close to the front protecting Sam wellsford who should be their main Sprinter but the other options as well now then be happy of Our Lady of Nazareth right in the middle of the brexta head protected landscape that's the centerpiece of it is a stunning stunning bit of architecture the only thing that interrupts your Passage through that protected area of 2000 hectares its inhabitants the nuns there in the time observing their order and enjoying the Meadows Forest fence and the bits of heathland around it if you're in the area there are cycling and Hiking paths around as well [Music] [Music] thank you into the final 75 case now first entry into town really comes in around 15 to 20 case time I'll get a look around the castles and the local area [Music] and you'll look to the Albert canal and the big boats are heading toward the area where the wind is usually howling across the road but today I can promise you it's calm it's not quite suntan weather the sun is nice and strong but the temperature in Belgium still has been cold the last few days maximum of 10 degrees despite the sun yesterday and the Wind made it full a lot cooler it's slightly warmer today but weather expected to change tomorrow once more so the I thought they'll be pretty happy everybody's eyes will next beyond what can happen with the weather just over the border south of here [Music] waited 20 years or so for a wet bag or bed maybe two will come along at once another example of the large sways of land that forested covered wooded change to the short cobbles and the hills of Flemish our den Testament to the diverse nature of the landscape in Florida's and you'll have noticed it's flat the whole of the scale of the press is to be the flattest race of the year because there's not even 400 meters of climbing over 205 kilometers of racing it's quite incredible it's as flat as they come and compare that to some stages in the grand Tours where certainly an agility Tyler you've got four and a half five thousand meter climbing stages of Lander at the weekend was pushing on one and a half two thousand with no big obstacles today no wind no rain no altitude gain this is why this race is so relaxed so far well-controlled seven-man Breakaway part is on the race radio by the way just being warned about this traffic Island we're seeing now signal is there but you can just see it's out of shop that's we're getting that race radio warning it's being relayed from the team cars out the back following this race to the Riders by the sports directors and that in turn can often create nerves in the bunch a couple of riders has been disconnected here toward gumastard at the back where number four one two three is tatch Jones fast man from Australia running for Israel Premier Tech some power push the beggar still tapping away at the Watts and the Rhythm opportunity for Young Riders from Lotto Destiny promoting a couple of riders to this team from their under-23 team just to keep tapping away themselves Liam's slock of Belgium Lotto destination they've just signed the 27 year old British professional Chris Lawless to their development team [Applause] well we've done to do a bit of earwigging here not cavitation units recruiting conversation the current British champion given the white jersey with a British flag there Richard and he's one of the top lead out men and he's the cheerleader on the bus for our bus into Kearney the DJ I'm told nice to see him back racing had a couple of shocking injuries the last couple years it just shows how relaxed it is I wonder she's gonna be trying to win the race today in conversation with arrival still 68ks to go and teammates have got these things under control at the back it's his own teammate lesson who's riding at the front third wheel as we look at it now blue jersey on this is Tim declaric the man they call the tractor [Music] he only really does have one gear but it's a particularly strong one lack of acceleration means that he himself is not a born winner he's a strong Rider as we're back with max volume spin to stroke time trial list can do a bit of everything it's a surprisingly versatile Rider is valshoid the German now running for the French team coffee this and he wrote his first cyclocross race this winter as well only a local one in Germany ended up winning it but he decided to try and see what the fuss was all about plenty of the top crosses progressing to the world and doing their stuff on the road one rather famous one in this Bunch today in the Shiva Macho Father Paul [Music] I think we'll be hoping here to get the right Sensations the right feelings after today I can't get that left knee of his right as we look at it and he's had enough of knee problems hasn't he in his career and shocking crash that almost cost him his career in his life came back really strong with giacomoni dollar former European and Italian champion he wouldn't consider him one of the favorites today but you can never count him up hasn't quite rediscovered that top form since moving to Israel Premier Tech that's Jones collecting clothes for him Jones himself a fast ride up will be being looked after today certainly has the seniority and strength of winds suggests that that should be the case gone below a minute now 66 case to go just heading through these twists and turns and not really able to slow things down too much [Music] you wonder what's left in the tank for the Breakaway as well I've been up there in front since the very few pedal Strokes most of them was not a long time for things to form today it was a rather quick start to the race ball meetings in terms of getting everything sorted [Music] no long drawn out effort like we saw in the round of Land Rover it took two hours and 15 minutes for the break to go really was tremendously entertaining racing [Music] I'll put in Center layers and 27 years of age [Music] his job in the team to do the controlling of the chasing of course his father de-essing in the team they were together in the jittery Italia last year battle isn't just arrived back in the days of Mapei and tremendous Classics right a former winner in Harold Becker actually but lesson is now in his 50s it runs in the family getting the orders from his dad and Johnny mirzman metzman the former Quick Step Pro had a retire rather Young yeah thankfully we got the picture back there it's a little worried then another of those sleeping policemen it sounded painful too I'll shine hanging around at the back still Riders just getting ready for what's to come you can see the rain jackets or mormus hands are going up to get rid of clothing get a bit of food not quite yet switched on time yet but it's getting towards that isn't it the Gap continues to just tick down I can see the Breakaway up ahead 49 seconds they do not want to catch them yet though [Music] for a section of cobbles for a while this is the synth job's a stand back only half a kilometer long and it's not exactly certainly a bit of a shock to the system after a relatively Easy snoozy Ride you can just see it's the first point where some Riders have moved up to be safer Fabio Jakob one of them up into the top 10 Riders little bit of an effort to be made but they're off the cobbles very very quickly and it's the four passages of the brookstrap that will be the main obstacle in terms of cobbles today and we're into the final week of the Cobble classic season on Sunday and then next Wednesday it's the transition race and one of the best days in the Canada yes I'm talking about the Bravo sapel the Hills suggests more and our den type ride but the cobbles of Flanders remain always a unique race in the calendar that comes next Wednesday afternoon as Ryan Mullen the former Irish champion gets rid of a bit of clothing that narrowing there and then an opportunity to move up and down now just though for now Jayco alula have just taken their man out the chase Lucas bustleberry has gone back to sit behind you can just see my camera is stripped and ready for action left inside moving up as well the bunch slowly starts to get ready to go to work and we're approaching now the outskirts of Gordon and heading towards the entry to the circuit three full laps gaps grown to around a minute another five ten seconds added into it these are now going to be very familiar roads all the way to the Finish on to the circuit so we do around half a lap brookstrat taking on four times but it is three full laps around Scotland to end the Diamond Classic Breakaway still concentrating on giving what they can but they know that it's nothing more than a television Breakaway this the types of teams that have got involved looking for sponsorship looking for exposure people sitting in my position to read out their team names corrotech at the back there this is Bolton equities black spoke team from New Zealand moved up to Second Division status for the first time this year they are officially a UTI pro team and this is the beat Cycling Club a third division team from Netherlands Continental Squad is their official name of course nowadays rather than World Tour teams we call them World teams for the top division or the Premier League teams if you like which there are nine at this race by the road now Peloton just allowing the Gap to increase while they can knowing that once they get towards the brookstrat and the section of cobbles things will decrease rather naturally here we go then first attempt first passage it's time just over a kilometer and a half long written in two sections short section through a housing estate up the top here water left water to the right on the second section and these cobbles while on the television it doesn't really do it full Justice I have to say they're uneven I'm not talking or anything like that not even a hard hook but they are deceptively difficult not in bad condition we're just old and uneven and they will feel them the bars will be rattling the bones are shaking if the Riders didn't already wake up before they'll be ready for action now this is the end of the section and behind now the Peloton will be looking for that right turn you can see Mark cavendish's Astana Kazakhstan team have moved up is this the day they stand up and be counted they've been relatively poor so far camera looks ready for action would be quite the result if they would have pulled something back and camera's Turn Back Time [Music] an illustration there with the camera motorbike actually is to how rattly these gobbles are sorts of things that if you're not on your best day they'll take that extra little bit off you there's Ethan batt at the back kiwi right away number 142. in fact say Ferrari Townsend the Irishman it's a an entirely kiwi team well here we are in Northern Belgium over in West Flanders is where the Belgian national championships will take place on the 25th of June the elite men and women in isakim top West Flemish parkour awaits as well a race that could be very different depending on if the wind's blowing or not [Music] it's that second sector in the second half of the brookstra is jaycar Lula recommit their man to the front pistol bag up [Music] just grown a little bit a little bit interesting that match your father Paul has moved up [Music] Fabio Jacobs on the left inside of our pictures we look at it white jersey there just in front of the French champion floriance sinner shall off to ride his home racing from northern France very close to the Border in the area where we have the cobbled sectors and they hit the Albert Canal for the first time [Music] pandagon Castle watch bottlesburg here or Scandal Castle dates for the second quarter of the 20th century biggest but fairly pretty it's the gardens I think that stand out more than anything and a Farmers Union is that it's uh our landscape your food and our future a brand new bridge up here the parkour slightly different once we get a little further up there's a rather narrow turn just beyond this bridge and for this Breakaway it's not about a problem interesting to see what happens when the Peloton come to it yeah aforementioned Albert canal with the city of ant to open the port up ahead on a quiet day and on scale to put a stay here 10 minutes or so drive away from Antwerp Center not too long ago this race used to start in down to it didn't it out by the Port building and which will be the venue yet again start next year it's going to alternate between antwer and Bruges for the next five years one minute five then it's just under the bridge here there's a slip road to the right and sharp turned to the left with a little bit of traffic Furniture right in the middle where the certainly in the final couple of lap sprinters we'll have to be careful when it gets fast and furious relying on their teammates to do the jobs for them and the new bridge the hogmolin bridge is that sector Road narrow is considerably here and you've just got this little bit to get through on the left-hand side traffic Island's being signaled nicely there might be one or two Riders who want to go around is there enough room certainly a few Riders looting positions there not too important on this lap when it comes up to the final lap or two losing positions there could be vital or even gaining them if you have somebody to move you up okay Le'Veon will be hoping that his team is all in for him comes a bit of clothing to Jared drizzness he's Australian compatriot you and looking for the first proper win of the season what would be a second scale to press now this is going to be the last three kilometers and the easiest were this is where the streets I should say stop the narrow bit of a chicane coming up here left to follow by a right this is the traditional running to scale the press it was tinkered with what's in it for a couple of years with a slightly longer run in from here a couple of 90 degree turns some tram tracks and didn't prove too popular on the safety front and it was quickly withdrawn [Applause] always erase this where you have to have your wits about you even after the Finish Line If you would be wanting to stay upright today and we'll be crossing our fingers for them here's the right turn one more deviation to ride at the end of this road and then it will be the final running 2ks to go from here [Applause] as they come through that Finish Line there will be three full laps I wonder what's going to happen with the gentleman there holding up that pan caught and it was screaming oh I can tell when we came past them earlier on they were saying that every time you hunt your horn they were going to drink the sports directors could have some fun with them later on I might need some help getting home here we go then a little deviation off to the right again a little bit of a chicane it's left then it's right be interesting in the last couple of laps and the final lap this is where the lead outs have to be dialed in and ready it has to be strong out and you'll need to have a position high up in the Peloton because just up ahead you can see the banner that will say one kilometer to go in this curtain itself and this is it satellite turn on the outskirts of Antwerp home to the scale of the press for quite a while now and the red flag that signifies a thousand meters to the finish line [Applause] [Applause] many of the greatest sprinters in the history of the sport have one on this road [Applause] Marcel kiddle the five-time record holder Mark Cavendish three times as well back in the days the Finish was in Antwerp on the track but in recent years this is where the best printers in the world have looked for what can be considered the world championship of sprinting this race here in scoten and the final day of the Tour de France and the chance the two big ones each year for the sprinters the two appointments they do not want to miss it might be a Wednesday afternoon in Flanders there may well be bigger fish to fly in terms of name reputes and money bags for the winners but the scale the press the oldest race in Flanders is an absolute gem to have the diamond race one that every Sprinter wants on their Palmer is three laps to go then [Music] and the Breakaway with just less than a minute it's from now on that the Peloton will be switched on behind their own first approach now got through the tricky stuff on the way in bunched up and having their first look their annual reminder for those who've done this many times before at this running Cav Edition company staying up towards the front you've got human-powered Health from the United States on the left-hand side fastest finishes for them including Jensen and anjokovsky he surprised the big names [Applause] three laps to find out [Applause] every teams you maybe you want to make it harder for others on the cobbles but no win to play with today amazing help them across the line [Music] [Applause] there's those q36.5 jerseys that have remained hidden until now I'm scared to their main Sprinter [Applause] so 51 seconds [Applause] I'm talking about prehistoric times before I wasn't talking about that far back it's gonna be doing bike races though dinosaur costumes at the moment always a slow burn of this race isn't it maybe just adding to the entertainment for us in this race it generally comes in a short burst when it comes though it is entertaining let's kill the Press building up to its usual explosive finale and the base is up in the Peloton that's Ethan bat who was already off the back earlier on it's not he's not on the greatest of days just struggling to hang on might well be the last we see of him and of course with these laps every time you go past the team Busters the temptation to get into it the 24 year old from Nelson in New Zealand might well be tempted done too much racing to be fair in the resumed his season after the national championships in New Zealand place at the start of February made it over to Europe for the summer first day of racing this spring for him and be forgiven for being out the back average speeder dropped ever so slightly in the last 20 30 K's or so but it will rise again now pushing up to 45.4 [Applause] [Music] still Tinder Clerk cap down to 42 seconds still a little too early to catch the break you'd say even though it's not the strongest collection of seven Riders out there in front Gap was only ever allowed to grow to three minutes and has been gradually brought back since then Peloton always going to have the upper hand provided too many people didn't get in that group lots of teams so they had the numbers and they had the strength in terms of the quality and caliber of riders [Music] government is shoving down a gel getting ready for action today to be the day for the latest smart cavities comeback 37 years of age now the I'm from the Isle of Man those 34 stage wins in the Tour de France 16 at the jeded Italia man who's also won three times at the Welter three of these scale the Press wins asaremo a world championship the greatest Sprinter of all time on the road yet to add to those 161 Career Road wins in this 2023 trying to catch de salkin alongside seven Riders who continue to Tap Away but in all honesty you are very unlikely to be a factor when it comes to the end game back on Castle watch eight and this is pull off Castle in schoolton and since the 15th century you see the moat around it as well pretty Gardens [Music] you just see now the rhythm's different isn't it the left's the right avoiding those bits of Road furniture half an hour back even there wouldn't have been that worry to make sure they're at the front it's the sort of nerves that can lead to incidents you're also starting to see lots of sprinters have their teammates forming the cocoons around them now back onto the pot of the circuit where they entered not long ago and this is a cake out Castle it's on the brook strad actually the way they're all passed around the cobbles it's a classical Castle they did 1770 on the front row apparently side bits the couple of wings apparently added in the 19th century and you can just see where the cobbled road is at the entrance to the estate where the fans are waiting that's where the Riders will pass on the brookstrat in a moment protected by that little moat alongside the cobbles nobody home at the minute though they're all on the side of the road watching this 46 seconds as pistol bagger powers on quick site of Rory towns any Irish Champion left inside white and green jersey missing for Bolton equities black spoke my chair for the pool through the center [Music] I'm on single diamonds there as well warmered up to Champion now moved over from guapama and part of the lead up for alpacing the kerning so Jasper Phillips of their Belgian Sprint is going to be really well looked after today Tammy news a fast man as well you mentioned Father Paul there's Jonas record top lead out many we mentioned earlier on when he was in conversation with Mark cavidish alongside his former teammates in sudal Quick Step colors there interesting to see whether she's going to get his own dedicated lead out or whether they will choose to follow Wheels approaching 40 kilometers to go just less than an hour of racing remains [Applause] add on to the brook Strat for the second of four passages fly past that beautiful stately home we saw time for sightseeing here now house visits paid we're trying to stay up the moat these Riders as well as the opportunity to go swimming if they don't want to make sure you don't try to any risky moves moving up in fact there's no real gutter to ride in here there's no choice but to ride on the cobbles organizers don't even need defense things off really the little white post to the left that are dissuasive enough and on the right hand side as well as the fans you've got the the big trees there it's right on the crown all the way across 1.7 kilometers in total that sector and now at the front of the Peloton there's that fight on the right hand side everybody makes it in nice and safely just 48 seconds is the gap here you could probably expect it to come down as they're on this cobbled sector you might have to play it letting it grow afterwards reminder in a reduced group this is where Alexander Kristoff went away and took the win last year a couple more seconds chopped off on that first part 42 seconds is now the gap very brief respite through the housing estate here and then on to the second part of it where the cobbles were slightly worse talk of them being relayed where's that second sector it's a slightly shorter one before the right turn onto the Albert canal and the Seven Riders still survive First full lap let's remember three to be taken on in total from the next lap and the final lap where the pace will really pick up though seven Riders staying up they're well said he'll just sell at the front and the yellow Jersey for bingo while only from the French speaking part of Belgium most of their lineup is actually from Florida's here the Flemish development team renamed the Flanders balwaz coming through now on the yellow white and blue as the Peloton turn off the cobbles to get through without any huge injection of pace through it it's Michael Hallam back to winning Ways last year as well one of the most popular wins of the season certainly for people who know his story big football fan off the bike as well as Halep as we see for the pool they'll be looking for Monument number two of the Season at the weekend if you can be a race very much on his radar the shoes are being done up here and some training for Sunday about to be done he's got a job to do for his teammate today all attention for what's not falling on him but we on his teammate Jasper Phillipson Phillips are one of the top sprinters in the world this year has won some very big races against the very best on the planet has that top turn of speed you fought Upon A Phillips and combined really well in italytico this year until that combination had been a relatively poor start to the season for alpacinda kernick last of the 18 World Tour teams to get themselves on the way to pick up their first victories of 2023 and since they did that though they've gone undertake some very big ones including Milano sarimo through matches two years after a grandfather hey Montpelier won it doing a great job here of just controlling things and it might not be the most explosive entertaining watch but this is a an excellent example of how to control a Race So Far 48 seconds and 38 kilometers remain this is one of several Sprint options for the team from Brittany in Northwest France our care Samsung let's take your pick really for them maybe a late decision made who knows start now wasn't exactly stripped and ready for action though there was he and jacket still on [Music] now then yes for Phillips it what's happened here well there you go no more explanation needed final Comfort break wondering if it was a mechanical but no and it's obviously that relaxed that he can afford to do that here last opportunity really should be held back to the punch as well by teammates they try to hold off the catch just these little turns that are gonna see everybody speed up just so strung out enough and they're not bunched up and having issues and crashes [Music] [Music] foreign jerseys supporting Caleb Ewan should all Quick Step of beam riding because they want Fabio Jacobson to win and borahan Scruff at Yoli Mills this is the Cal expert Castle just outside of skodden a feudal Castle the bird from skodden stood on the island of the lake since the 11th century inhabited by the Lords of scoten until the mid-1400s it was burnt down present day Castle the one that stands there now erected in the East End of the lake in the early 17th century standard the builders in for an extension the early 19th century [Music] I guess the planning permission was a little different in those days approaching what will be the final couple of kilometers interesting that Alexander Kristoff is being moved up got for those yellow and red jerseys right inside Uno X Kristoff wearing that Arrow helmet again that is an adapted old time trial helmet from three years ago with a visor taken out Cavendish knows all about the danger points in this race left-hand side couple of Astana Kazakhstan teammates around him again just warning to be as safe as possible at the front of the bunch and at the way as much as possible if any incidents happen here's the chicane to what will be the final kilometer in a bit they're left they're right they're left again and into the straight everybody through safe and sound Edward turns is being moved up the Splinter from Kent places in the red and whites of with moving up on the left hand side and just 40 seconds or so further up the road and about to come across the finish line for the second time seven men of the Breakaway gas for them just them just to dissalt kinch apples with all four mazoto diesel hoppozak all at the front two laps to go as they bang on the boards in school [Applause] [Music] and the clock starts not far behind you have the Peloton big stars moving up towards the front bunched up occupying every little bit of this road from left to right front to back just trying to hold off that catch difficult balance between doing that and advancing to keep the position for the team at the front the gap's gonna be bigger than half a minute there's going to be less than what it was the last time they came through timed at 36 seconds 36 seconds for the Breakaway of seven riders with the Peloton hungry and ready to go they're dialed in and the racing proper really starts now at scale the Press [Applause] thank you [Music] [Applause] the base is up the game faces are on it's The Unofficial sprinters World Championship in Florida's the oldest ever classic in the region [Music] the 111th Edition and well then Jasper Phillips sir found a pool moves back to the back of the bunch so I'm stopped for that Comfort break winner of this race two years ago I'll be looking to try and assemble the team there is Father Paul ready to escort Phillips some back up through the bunch it's a rare sight to seeing Matthew Father Paul up there in domestic mode [Music] [Applause] the front 31 seconds now continues to come down the more technical part of the circuit coming before and after the finish line [Music] issues here and issues for Marcus under Hansen back wheel Danish Ryder with a quickish back wheel change but of course none of them quite as quick as they used to be with these disc brakes now then that's rather pretty and it's the uh awarded instead estate is a motored area about 110 hectares or injury in the late classical style that I'm told the last quarter of the 18th century is when it was all constructed well looked after well kept very pretty from the air that just on the 30 seconds for the first time then foreign adventurers for the day you will know that barring a miracle there on a hiding to nothing him they've got the sponsor's names on the telly they've got their own names a little better known of them have been winners on a professional level today I don't think will be that first day for them about to move into the final 30 kilometers a lap and three quarters of the scale the Press remains over 170 kilometers already in the lake since they left her nurse they've crossed the border from Netherlands to Belgium and they're now on the local laps around school now right on the edge of the estate that we were just looking at the wooden standard on Judy this is the horse Chapel the first Chapel that was built there was in the 1400s a couple of centuries later somebody came along in the warring feudal days and destroyed it and a brand new one was built that was in the 1600s if it had to be renovated two centuries later stood there like that since 1835. old place of pilgrimage [Music] rather like the scale the place for the sprinters isn't it this is their special date [Music] and they've gone through 30 K's to go now it's half a minute the Gap from the Breakaway to the bulletin marring any sort of bizarre incident we are heading for a Sprint in the Skylander press [Music] [Music] I didn't want to move up there on the left hand side on the footpath and give them what happened the other day that might be a move that isn't the most popular once I'm referring to the crashes in the land of land [Music] they are Sam moving up and looking after Sam wellsford their Australian Sprinter in this race last year we had one of his breakthrough results actually a Podium place 27 year old from Perth from subiaco the Italian district in Perth and Western Australia both producing the Judo d'italio winner last year Jay hindley tobiako District also home to Ben O'Connor top Australian Rider who's as you just say on the French team you can just see people are that bit more desperate to move up and move around I feel more risks being taken around these corners the shape of the bunch changes in the meantime and up from the Polish rider for human-powered health who wants to go back to the car Caleb Yoon and Company still staying out of trouble let's start their sem on the left hand side this is where maybe the original Chase starts to just come apart a bit see they're still riding so many other teams competing for space and position though who requires assistance it's a front wheel [Applause] a little bit more pressure on the mechanics now with these disc brakes just see not the time for a shaky hand is it race radio shuts up 28 seconds and it's the lowest the gap's been since the Breakaway went on Dutch soil in the first few kilometers of the race they're on the outskirts of Scotland and the sprinters are being well positioned personal Burger who was chasing is now dedicating his services to looking after De La Cruz behind him former teammates from sudar Quick Step on the right hand side here in the blue and white who are taking care of Fabio jakobser the reigning European champion he moves up sit in the middle of a line of teammates no Casper Pearson today who was due to be doing the leading up action that that job might fall now to Senator we will see sprinting leading out as a concept has changed hasn't it in the last few years spent much more messy nowadays not the same as it was back in the day so team High Road I mean start the Sprint lead out with 20 kilometers to go really the one by one the Riders would peel off and keep that position it's much more of a fight for those positions inside the final few kilometers a lot of sprinters now dropped off to sit on other Wheels as well another few kilometers ticked by the pace is up and the average is over 50 K's an hour they're on the same stretch of road Peloton has the Breakaway in sight half a minute and approaching the final 25 kilometers this be a big effort if they can hang on and stay out there for the Bell not an impossibility the Peloton will probably prefer it well there's engineered that way we'll have to wait and see they've still got to go across the brook Strat again and into those twists and turns they're approaching the brookstrat now for the penultimate time that'll be that tight 90 degree right turn away from this wooded area under the 1.7 kilometer long stretch of cobbles no problem for this punch here they go off the smooth tarmac Road and on to the bumpy bone shakers the brookstrat for the third time of four seven Riders taking it on being led here by surreal de sal and the Fleming in that yellow Jersey flicking his elbow Joshua kench can't come through that's his right turn for the Peloton trying to slow things down a little bit on that straight line and that will be an acceleration onto the stones centerless and who's still going Tim the claddock is on his wheel and then a slightly different collection of riders left and right Brave Maxwell trying to move up there in the gutter as I said earlier on there's not much of the god you can ruin and riding without taking excessive risks Marco Halo's been working all day number 55 he's up towards the back now is just alongside him imagine he might have a role to play today let's see from their burger they've allowed the Gap to go to 40 seconds of that last sector here in the cobbles there's Gerard is advancing at a Raider knots but again nothing silly it's an exercise in control that continues [Music] but example have moved up on the right hand side now then it looks as though the break is breaking up break is breaking up the strength being sorted from the weakness kench dropped mazoto falling the same fate and it looks as though we're down to four Riders [Music] it's going to make it easier for these Baja to catch and it looks as though over these Stones they've got down to 23 seconds [Music] kench hopperzak dropped and they're about to be caught by the Peloton their adventure for the day is over make a way with brown diesel but they're now just four Riders of the original seven left to Chase [Music] reels them in Bloom William Levy of Denmark dropped as well decisions being made all the time now and those weaker licks are not going to survive to the final lap here the four Riders still at the front of the race they've got less than half a minute now now by the Albert Canal on the outskirts of Antwerp in Northern Belgium the diamond City none of these you suspect they've got diamonds in the legs today sprinters behind will be hoping to live up to that well-known Belgian saying the likes of Kristoff Jacobs of Phillipson Terrace and Cavendish Kruger wellsford Wild Side Mouse turns you and Zola muscati is Reuben Nappers came through the lotto Destiny development Squad where this man Plies his trait I'll put us then move to Flanders balwazen he's representing them in the final throws of this Breakaway the SM looking good on the left-hand side aren't they who's it for today you imagine Welsh for giving his performance here last year but this day nears it and there's vanuden as well still managing to hold off it's left at the Breakaway does have a chance of taking the Bell now the feeling that a big acceleration from this group again and the days are numbered for the fall Who Remain at the top part of the road that's going to be really interesting the next time through narrowing that a loss of positions if you're in the wrong place much more room to choose from further up here and it's like a team time trial from DSM just keeping that position on the far side kiss ball in and around Mark cavarish there that's that I can't understand if they found wanting in their Sprint train is today they get it right have they clicked is this the moment all eyes on Cavendish the aim of the game is that one stage when at the Tour de France that will give him the upright record of 35 victories he's currently tied with Eddie Merks on 34 at the tour the early evidence this season it doesn't look like it's coming issue never count him up he's been here before he's not looked like winning and bangi was back wasn't he a couple of years ago with the four stages I'm riding with the best leader rider in the world in Miguel Marco interesting there with jakobs and alongside him [Music] contact was made seem to calmed down a little bit but something maybe that the VA armor look at a video Commerce app because this is big ego sprinting this is the scale of the press might be the equivalent of a local Derby in football where they'll let the odd thing go we will see got down to 25 seconds now as they fight for position in and around each and every turn next Friday we dropped why it's the same ride he was struggling the last time we were through here Joshua kench actually from the break to the back he's going to join Ethan back out the back Jacobs are staying close to the front Phillips are now being moved up as well I found a pool second wheel looking after philipson who sits behind him liason is up there not far as well is Ramel single then here's Afghani feather of it's in the fluorescent Jersey for Astana Kazakhstan trying to keep Mark Cavendish position at the front on the right as we look at it now and suddenly on mass appearing Lotto Destiny and calebuen they've been hanging around at the back out the way and now the on switch is flicked just one thousand meters short of the Bell lap and it's time to take control the Breakaway will not last much longer I don't think through the finish line and that is that Lotto Destiny team relegated last year now a second division team but still getting plenty of invites to the big races they've turned down an appearance at the Giro but will be at the Tour de France I have three years to pick up the points to be promoted again each Year's points are important because it's the top Place teams in the SEC division who get the best invites for the year after promotion on all medium term thing making sure they're still in races like the Tour de France very much a short-term objective so the bell's about the ring Honda and four Riders were made at the front Bram diesel Felipe Rodolfo Ruben apres and serial de sal [Music] four hours five minutes of racing one lap remains in the Scala press and away it's going we are all set for a big bunch Sprint finish The Unofficial sprinters World Championships here in scoten and all the champs-elysees in July well it's chapter one that's about to take place 20 seconds and a big bunch are on their way to bringing back the break and who wants it who is going to take it who will do everything right mistakes invariably are made in the pressure situation in this race you have to have a Flawless performance and the legs need to be of the right strength and form [Applause] lots of things have to come together here the former winners in the bunch know that [Applause] Kristoff trying to defend his title win for the third time Cavendish looking for a fourth win that will put in one behind Marcel Kittle [Applause] UNM Jacobson tried to Win It Again a jakob's victory would put him level with cavadish and ulibrant as well it's all up for grabs balusters jettison that's Mark Kohala on the way Zone Gap now below 20 seconds Liam's lock has been working all day long from the development team promoted for today and he's done a big job and he's now at the back They Ride for the life up the front beat Cycling Club with brown diesel 24 year old from the Netherlands still out there still trying to keep that name on the television and it should all Quick Step who take it up behind but this race won't quite save their spring if they're to Win It but it'll be another step forward they have been anonymous in cobbled classic racing much as though it might be another mechanical issue for Alan banashek either that or this time it's the legs maybe the chase back on did for him pelotonic full speed they're fighting for position left inside for his new Jayco and Lula team and that's done for hobizak out the back of the ballot and he goes was in the Breakaway earlier on it'll be a ride from here to the finish for him to finish the race 15 kilometers to go left and right they Battle For Real Estate on the road coffee is team from France who you think will be behind Maxwell Scheid will have Peter la carte who's a very very fast finisher as well only 15 seconds what's left of the break they were never given a shot never given a prayer today three minutes to maximum buy a Peloton who's had them controlled no win to help things along no weather to take away the spirits of those chasing them they're on their way to being caught here's my cheerful training for Sunday I'm riding here would suggest that he's not going to be the man to lead up there are other riders in the team to help with that record is on his wheel further back you have singled on Wonderful's job now is to help keep that position at the front for opposite of kernick and Jasper Phillips it's a cool video shooting a good job opportunity on the right hand side Jayco Lula moving up and this washing machine effect in the Peloton continues off to the front and as soon as you do you push to the back cars all being pulled out the Gap now between the Breakaway and the Peloton and the ride is heading away from schoolton and out into the woods to the cobbles for the final time the cleric shtibarish job on the left the Czech classic start seems to be keeping jaycar Lula's position towards the front and hoping they can pilot the look into the right position to win Luca Mets gets is expected to be the main lead out man [Music] he's rather good at that as well the Slovenian former winner himself of a general Italia stage [Music] just trying to keep that position without fully pulling in the break yet there is time for that to happen you don't want to encourage any attacks with all four and the diesel moving away from school and towards the brookstart they'll miss our lock behind focused on the objective on the radar in front whenever the Peloton fired the target will be acquired sitting ducks in the water this lot has bunched up as they're likely to be at this point in any Sprint race [Music] it'll all flash by in the blink of an eye now Harper's into chronic looking confident sitting right at the back of that train is Jasper Phillips a winner a couple of years ago big right turn coming for the bunch again if you haven't got those front positions this is the time of the race where you do not want to be expending that energy to move up energy that could all be used to try and take the Sprint victory 16 seconds now it's the long straight road here that takes them into the entry to the brook Strat for the final time team sir gonna really put an acceleration in over the cobbles or if they're all happy to stand toe-to-toe and go to each other in the Sprint kiss ball sitting just in front of Mark Cavendish on the right-hand side ball wearing the turquoise Jersey I'm just losing his wheel though and sitting behind Louis Ben Dixon now Cavendish in the white red and navy blue British champion second time in his career he's taken that Jersey when he showed he was ready for the Tour de France even though he wasn't selected last year non-selection that led him to leave should our Quick Step or Peloton are now 10 kilometers from the Finish Line it's called they've still the Breakaway to catch but looks like a formality four Riders remain at the front and the Riders are still waiting for that big push on in Pace teams moving up to the front and holding that position as much as possible breakaway have one more sector of cobbles to survive they're about to turn right onto it awaits for the fourth and final time these guys will keep riding keep pushing just in case something happens behind Crystal Berger and Hala the two austrians who've been working all day long having a quick chat their job is done today and now it's trains left and right and the blue on the far left Albertson just alongside him in the black DSM through the center in the fluorescent yellow Tanto marshy then in the green and black you can see Bora and on the right hand side the blue and white pseudo Quick Step the latter protecting Fabio jakobs are the two-time winner of this race now it's Father Paul with the acceleration left inside trying to make sure that Albert Cinder kernick win this right hander into the cobbles it's perfect for his teammate and it's perfect training for Sunday for him the cobbles of party whobe await Breakaway just about to turn into the Brookstone they make that right turn and now the Peloton fights for every little bit they can 17 seconds they come on to it a big swing right now and positioning is going to be more important than it ever has been in the four previous laps and it's strung out much more if you're further back now there's a lot of effort here to be made on the cobbles to make the front positions I'll pass into kernick have won that fight and it's mature for the pool who's doing a brilliant ride and the whole team riding together I mean you're at the front as well rubber case is there too helping out I thought it ball goes back to Third Wheel to sit in they're on the brook Strat and alpacine winning that position Jayco doing well enough as well left inside as you look at it now protecting crude Vega it's gonna be the battle of the two big Dutch printers Cavendish has done well enough following the wheels right inside as well in fact he looks to be following Fabio jakobson 82 here is Tobias Anderson he's up again now in the black for DSM will man less for them 14 seconds for the Breakaway seven and a half kilometers to go we're halfway across the brook Strat with a second sector the split of cobbles to come yo [Music] help us into kernikov kept this position all the way through oh problems problems problems Tim nabin it's a back wheel on the gobbles and that will be him not getting back on they fight for the final sector of cobbles now the second half of the brook Strat the fourth and final time round good effort from the former Dutch Champion there single damp to regain his position sitting alongside Phillipson because that might be singled down to do the final bit of the lead out today Breakaway still out in front but only just just over 10 seconds is the gap it's gonna be a right turn here under the Albert canal and the cobbles for another edition of the scale depressed the 111th edition of the oldest classic of Flanders are done and dusted it's now down to the tight lefts and rights off the Albert canal and the fight into the finish in schoolton and look at how much more strong out they are now if you're further down you've got that much more effort to move up Phillips at Sprinter for Albertson to kernick is on the radio is done and dusted and on the right as we look at it now there's Daniel goes to work so tell me news done it's now up to rubber case the former track star from Belgium young man who's now on the road with opposite of Kearney Breakaway fighting for their lives here it's a really good fight they're putting up but you really do get the feeling that they're going to need an absolute Miracle to hang on and now Cavendish puts his team to work through the center Astana Kazakhstan with a former national champion of Kazakhstan yevgeny Federal punishing the rest of the Peloton through the middle q36.5 move up in those gray jerseys the new team from Switzerland day-to-day ride for Mattel mosquetti the only winner of a race so far for them this season five and a half kilometers to go starts to become fast and furious frantic doesn't even cover it eight seconds now for the break their days are numbered and this is late enough to deter any late attacks I'm sure Sprint trains stay to the front this should be the big bunch Brink we've all been expecting at the scale the Press tradition dictates that that's the case and it'll be back to the skelder praise classic finish five kilometers to go six seconds they fight they pedal they sell apples read all four and Diesel they are about to be caught coming up to one of the main obstacles inside the funnel four and a half kilometers now that slip row where they go up to the right deep down to the left-hand side a new bit of the course and it's an attack from the Breakaway to try and be the most combative it's come from Bingo wallani salad and the rider from Russell is holding them off that little bit longer into four kilometers to go but behind there on them the power to Pace the Rhythm and the speed is going to be too much for the break and it is now mature for the pool who's putting those metronomic legs to work the man who's riding his home race today is from this region about to reel in the Breakaway alpacinda kernick was one of the favorites and Jasper Phillips are looking to win his second skelder place right inside it's the Belgian team as we look at it looking at calebuen he's in the right and blue the break is done brought back with 3.4 kilometers to go they turn away from the Waterfront the Albert Canal Left Behind for another year and it's into the tight lefts and rights the twisty tourney streets that takes us to the final kilometer in scoten itself I'm not sure if all the pool having the orders barked behind him by Ramon Cinco Dam two former Dutch national champions at the front they've got a Belgian on the radio directing opposition behind scale the Press is coming to its usual frantic explosive finale any mistake now when you're at the game pure power from my cheerful that's helping keep alpacinda kernick in the right position as they go under three kilometers to go Cavendish still up there wellsford being kept into that right position in the black it's the first of a couple more chicanes to go father Paul still with that power everybody where they need to be in the first couple of rows if you're behind now it's time to move up and gruner Vega needs to do that Kristoff needs to move up as well mosquetti's out of position in the gray Jersey too Edward turns is being moved up on the right hand side and so that a quick step trying to get organized left hand side as we look at it it's Center sharp and it's still for the pole this is quite the turn and Thunderball giving everything he can to keep that position wins that right turn once more how long can he carry on for here a match here follow Paul still goes mature follow Paul still goes and if you're struggling here and you're out of position then you ain't getting back to the front as soon as quick step or way out of position cavity is still amazingly keeping it with ball as well they're doing well that is far to pull down with two kilometers to go and now single down lotto's Destiny with plenty of Firepower too cavadish is following ball well left inside Kristoff moving up and through the center it's Jacobson who's being piloted in at the right time and some last minute adjustments now for karuna Vega as they move left they're about to go right and head in towards the final finish straight Lotto Destiny take over one and a half kilometers to go we're heading for the Sprint in the 111 scale the Press former winners new stars all ready to battle it out in the Sprint calebuen has the advantage right now but there's a long way to go even though it will pass by in a blink of an eye Center kerning just trying to make sure that they have their bodies and Men right Mark Cavendish being moved up through the center as well Center shall Waits but Jacobson still has to move up and now with one kilometer to go philipson loses the wheel Phillips and loses the will and after all that hard work now by opera scene he has to refine it cavities looking decent as well needs to keep fighting for that position though 700 meters to go you and waits and now our Pacino refining their position Phillips at his back where he needs to be Cavendish following Edward turns right now Jacobson looks like he's not gonna have a lead out he's picking the wheel of Mark Cavendish for now and it looks as though it's going to be Lotto Destiny who really go for it now and you can just see it that final lead out Ewan Waits behind turns is there cabin is ready to come off his will through the center you can see that it is now calebuen who's about to be launched to pass there but he might be in his way 150 meters to go and look at Cameron is through the center Cambridge hits him through the center Mark Cavendish is down the right they're trying to come around him it's Phillips Phillips finishing again and Jasper finisher has a second skill the Press Fabio Jacobson way up the game and coming across out of position and it's the Belgian Philips who takes the victory once more messy in the final few hundred meters nobody wanted to go until late was pulling and pulling and pulling Ewan eventually went after the boss went he was blocked off Cavendish hit the front and it looked as though he's about to rewind the clock but this man Jasper Phillips wins the skell the press for the second time who took control of the final five kilometers firstly through matya follow Paul and then through the whole team and Jasper Phillips after briefly losing the wheel far this way back and found his way to the Finish the illness record the man to do the final bit of accelerating for him when it counted and yes put a Phillips uh taking the 27th victory of his career and for the second time the king of sprinting in Scotland [Music] contributing to another big victory he looks in fine form still heading towards at the weekend [Music] all day there's Ramos singled up and alpacine took quite a while to get going this season but the train is in motion today it was a high speed one led by Jasper Phillips [Applause] [Music] so now Quick Step absent once again Fabio yakovs are rolling over after the moment of passed more questions will be asked of Patrick the favoritest team Lotto worked far off one of the best Cavendish performances we've seen since signing for Astana Kazakhstan the cheers though are for the Local Hero [Music] and this is how it played out Philips who by this point had got his way back onto the wheel of Jonas record Cavendish following Edward turns through the center and you and waiting waiting as it was Jasper the burst at this point wellsford was in the black Jersey on the right side it's a long Sprint from valscheid 150 meters to go here as campus tries to come across and off the wheel of turns is Phillips who has to stop who has to restart who goes again and it looks as though it is Jasper Phillips Sam wellsford and Mark Cavendish who's back onto the podium of the skelder press looks as though Jacobson might have had a mechanical as he pushed on the pedals yeah not as well looked after that I mean towards the end it's Phillipson there is well for there is Cavendish fourth place going just about to kruna Vega head of testing and it all comes down to those few moments in the pressure cushion yeah absolutely ah the light fellows nearest and dearest to Jasper Phillips he said this week he was talking to the false black podcast he was between the 20 and 30 riders in the world and today was the top one Jasper Phillips a big Sam Wells for the mark cavadish to the skull the Press unofficial world championship of sprinting title couldn't a Vega fourth test and fifth turns fileshydolo no top temper jakobs who seem to suffer mechanical in the final few hundred meters and it's Jasper philipsa who wins his second skull the press and Mark Cavendish who returns to the podium with Sam wellsford there moving up a step from the third he picked up last season or lots of positives for wellsford and Cavendish to take out of that some bigger name sprinters in terms of form in front of them this year become bigger than cavities in terms of sprinting overall this year's form an encouraging sign with the grand Tours still to start work to be done for others everything's going right though for Jasper Phillips and Albertina kernick and it was a demonstration of teamwork so Philip said in 2021 and Phillips again in 2023 protection level with Tom Bona on two wins are the Belgian grates up there as well likes if I killed base [Applause] he is now a big name in the world of sprinting 25 years of age still with plenty more to be won a professional ridiculously young didn't it UAE Phillips has produced the goods again he is the winner of the 111th Scout the hard race isn't it to get right all day waiting if you're the one of the main sprinters protected saving energy and waiting and when it happens you have to get it right many more races where there's more pressure on the shoulders the Delight or disappointment can all boil down to 30 seconds or a minute to work the nature of top level sprinting well then just a couple of minutes we'll hear from the Riders on the podium let's go get some immediate reaction showing with the winner Jasper Phillips Jasper Phillips many congratulations your second Victory ever in the skelder press and it looked easy but I'm sure it wasn't it wasn't that these are the legs uh I felt uh at the end but I think it was for everyone that was not a typical uh hard race here in Scala press like we saw the last years with the wind but uh that it also made it an exciting Sprint at the end how did you manage to get into the good position because that was key for your Victory I guess yeah I think the team did an amazing job actually we didn't really had a meeting for how we were going to do it but but all these guys are really experienced and uh yeah in in lead out they know what they're doing they know how to bring me in a bad spot how high do you rank this Victory your second ever in this race you you wanna break it upon earlier this season I I'm really happy to win it uh now twice and more than one time so uh yeah hopefully I can add some more in the future thank you thank you congratulations after Phillips record of five yet tune that up if you find a form at this time of year two so far this one a prestigious one to enjoy or Jasper Phillips and the team the name to add into the Sprint mix at the Tour de France stage winds already there being strong as the years go by the 111th scale the Press began interns in the Netherlands last year or two leading up to this 2023 Edition had seen plenty of winds and Chaos at the front but this time it was all about calm seven Riders getting up the road this Sal kench apart and it was a calm ride but a controlled one three minutes was the maximum Gap at the time we got to the cobbled sectors and the outskirts of Scotland where the Finish takes place it will be even better controlled by the Peloton antwered but in the distance scoten the finale for the Diamond Classic for most of the day the Gap a bit lower a minute and a half and it was controlled below a minute for the final 40 kilometers or so the race no major incidents on the brookstrat cobbles the money was going to go on to take the win would be nice and calm at the back of the bunch Dependable time across the cobbles three Riders were dropped four remained out in front but they too would face a fight in their hands they'd be reeled in late but it'd be perfectly timed by the Peloton Tinder claddock Can Company doing their usual Sterling controlled job and just under four kilometers remains when the bunch brought them back suriel desal going for the competivity of the ward and in the final 300 meters at the waiting and waiting and waiting the Sprints were launched [Music] and then through the gap on the right as we looked at it Phillips is showing he had the Speed wellsford having a break Phillips wellsford Cavendish and a mechanical issue on the left for Fabio jakobson fantastic Phillips are winning for the second time at the scale of the press tough much so we've heard from the winner congratulations on my second place um but was it possible to win you think today yeah yeah it was a good day today um third last year second this year so maybe next year I can get the win um yeah it was possible uh you know I had talked to Phillips in it and uh Albertson they did such a really good uh final and yeah unfortunately it's a little bit stuck on the barriers there but um you know in these Sprints it's all about split decisions and uh I think you can go either way you know with stepping out ride or holding left so um yes happy with second but you know it's never never fully satisfied what's the Sprint extra complicated because a lot of sprinters were kind of fresh after this kind of race yeah a super easy day for for the bunch really um which provides a really hard final so uh yeah I think the the the Finish was pretty chaos today the last you know 20 to 30k was was fighting full for positions and and then you could see uh you can see in the final a lot of guys getting getting screwed over and you know almost crashing so I was super super lucky to get through and get on to yasser's wheel so um yeah it's all about being patient and you know picking a moment I think your next goals I would say um hopefully some more more stage racing in the middle of the year and um who know really knows what will happen after that I think we're just taking the step by step and kind of just seeing how a develop as a sprinter I think it's it's already been a really good year for me um but you know I'm super hungry to you know get back in that TOP Step and I'm still improving as a as a Sprint on myself congratulations runner up Sam Wilson thank you so much cheers nice to hear an honest appraisal from Sam wellsford who's still very much discovering sprinting at this level for last year second this year he said who knows 12 months time more experience in the legs maybe turning it into that TOP Step let's see if he's taken to a grand tour as well I can always change the legs are we stay on Castle watch while we wait for Podium watch which will be along in a moment's time and a reminder the Cobble classic season hasn't quite finished yet Sunday of course by he'll be and then next Wednesday we will be in over there for the Bravos appeal that brilliant crossover race as we go from the cobbles of Flanders to the hills of the Arden and we'll meet halfway in the Bravo how about that that's the little call to have the deck chairs out that sprinting action certainly hotting up towards the end 's missing out the man in form able to take the victory let's put a Phillips up started off well this season adding another of the biggest races of his calendar a couple of times as well he is invariably there in the big races the Tour de France tennis program this ship stages last year at that race of course already a winner to make his uh Judo debut now following the departure of medley early certainly the main man in the team as far as the Sprint finishes are concerned well we've met lead he's been the man taking victories for sudar Quick Step to be made pretty soon between medelier and Jacobson going towards the Tour de France as well for the whole Quick Step now let's have a look at this here is Jacobs are right inside get your eye on him tries to follow Cavendish still sitting on cavendished Wheel in the white jersey and blue there he's got Riders either side of him the wheel of Cavendish and there he is there's his issue but there's his issue has a problem at the Sprint but again I've been losing positions the normal sudar Quick Step warm-up and the Phillips are looking in a different League then I'll pass into kerning putting pressure on him performing and powering home to the wind turns loves this race doesn't he he's always up there the top five for him and it looks as though it might be Podium time [Music] almost ready to go if she's all wanting that moment in the sun with the winners of course [Music] and he won 111th edition of the skull the Press is about to be awarded three doesn't unseason foreign for the first time on the podium again Mark Cavendish second time in three years and here he is mark cavadish [Applause] back in the game smiling and that's a good sign going forward there hadn't been many so far this season but Cavendish on the podium press again [Music] and this man's getting closer Sam wellsford from third to second from Australia to Europe showing his strength but here is the man [Music] willing for a second time in three years the man who ended the Belgian drought a few years ago it had gone from bonan in 2006 all the way for 15 years until Phillipson took victory and he's gone and done it again Jasper Phillips wins the scale the press for the second time [Applause] we're number 27 in his career and he's beaten some mighty bike riders along the way foreign [Music] [Applause] acclaimed again before he takes his trophy and the unique trophy given to the winner and in the diamond City the skel the Press taken mother Belgium with diamonds in his legs he has for Philips doing the business it was a top team performance [Music] wellsford and at the top of the pile Jasper Phillips go ahead guys it's all yours somebody moves and then all drink to that top days work at the scale of the press and another win taken home for the Belgian boy Jasper Phillips [Music] well done guys the champagne moment for the winner after a really tough Hard Day's Work on the roads of Netherlands and Florida's [Music] so shorten returns to peace and quiet for another year they came alive once again for the skull the Press we're off to battle Bay now join us next week though for the brab onto pale from Rob hatch and all of us at Fernandez Classics thanks for watching I will see you soon goodbye [Music] thank you [Music] foreign

Channel: FloBikes

Views: 59,325

Keywords: flobikes, cycling, pro cycling, worldtour, watch live

Id: NIHMndRQCew

Length: 170min 42sec (10242 seconds)

Published: Fri Apr 07 2023